Directives from the US Armed Forces to
female soldiers on how to deal with
sexual assault in the military

When it happens
you will not understand why
You thought this only happened to the pair of vessel legs
wobbling its way down the cement
to the girl who looks like confetti
drinking her rum
but not you
not you with your knotted bun
with your taped down breasts
those pants do not
flaunt your pubic bone
that vest does not hug your waist
this is not a place to decorate yourself
and you thought you made all the right moves
but do not be fooled by your body armor
do not think it will make you less desirable to these men
these men love it when you dress like this
when you smell like this
When you wrap a beautiful gift in ugly paper like this
it is easy to hurt someone who looks just like you
especially when you hate yourself
he has been living inside of his own pulse for months
ripping apart his pheromones
convincing himself that the man in the next cot might just feel like a woman if he closes his eyes and opens his hands
you are the solution darling
and doesn't that make you feel worth something
you were the pill
the bourbon
the anatomical shrink
stop making excuses for yourself
when he doesn't know how to speak softly remember he has been taught to bellow
when he uses his hands like a steel ram treats your body like the locked door remember
he's been taught not to knock first
when he doesn't respond to the sound of your voice remember
he has forgotten the sound of his wife's
how can you possibly blame an animal for its lack of table manners
this is not a game of tattletale
don't come to me with your regrets
This place is where bad decisions are born
the question is how you deal with it
when this happens and you crack
you are not a victim.
you are a liability
you are one step behind in the march
You are too many phone calls to your mother
you're loose boots, lazy shots, and easy fix
and most of all you are a burden
You will be discharged early
with the salute of a soldier and a stomach like knotted rope
a gutted car in the valley your uniform is a small dog nipping at your hemline
your family will not know how to praise you
and you will not try to teach them
fear is marching next to the enemy
but shooting at a stranger
fear is a loaded barrel and not knowing who to kill
this is a war between your body and your country
which side are you on